Happytime Murders bought by Lionsgate

Henson puppet black comedy on the move

Muppet fans rejoice – the Henson Company’s R-rated puppet crime thriller Happytime Murders has been picked up by Lionsgate and is looking to shoot this January.

Snapped up as a spec script by producers Lisa and Brian Henson - Jim’s kids - in 2008, the story sees muppets living side-by-side with humans as second class citizens.

When the goggly-eyed muppet cast of ‘80s TV show The Happytime Gang get murdered one at a time, an alcoholic PI puppet teams up with his human former partner to solve the crimes.

The only word that springs to mind with that premise is: Genius. For lovers of the awesome season five Angel episode ‘Smile Time’, in which kids show puppets came to life to suck the souls out of children, this should be a real treat.

Right now a lead actor is being sought out (presumably for that human PI role), and considering the tone of the film we’re sure people like Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson are being approached.